SENT TO THE POWERS.
According to telegrams from Rome, the Pope has put forward fresh peace proposals to the Powers now at war. Yesterday we received from Reuter’s Agency the following message: Rome, Tuesday.
The Pope’s peace proposals have already been delivered to all the belligerent Governments. It is expected that they will be published to-day by the Vatican. It is asserted that the Pope suggests that Belgium, Serbia, and Roumania should be restored, and that there should be a peaceful solution of the problems of Alsacelorraine, the Trentino, Trieste, and Poland. In a later message the same correspondent states: In his new appeal for peace the Pope refers to the statements recently made by leaders of the belligerent Governments, which prove, he considers, that their views are not so far apart as is believed. The Pontiff proposes: The acceptance of the formula, “No annexations and no indemnities,” except in the particular cases of Belgium and some French and Serbian regions which have been severely damaged. The solution of the Alsace-lorraine, Trentino, and Trieste questions according to the aspirations of the peoples, so far as they are compatible with the general situation. The restoration of the ancient Kingdom of Poland, and the restoration of Belgium and the French Departments occupied by Germany, in exchange for the return of the German colonies. His Holiness also advocates general disarmament, the formation of a Supreme Court of arbitration to settle future disputes between nations, and the freedom of the seas.
The Vatican is very optimistic that as a result of the new Papal initiative in favour of peace the end of the war is not very distant. It is recalled that the Pope always declared after his last peace attempt in July, 1916, that he would not make any other move in the same direction, unless he knew his efforts would be agreeable to both groups of belligerents. It can now be admitted that the Pontiff, before sending his present Note, obtained assurances that no Government would receive it with an absolute refusal to discuss it, and the hope is therefore entertained at the Vatican that the peace proposal has been issued at the psychological moment.